family fun - december 2009

Picks of the Month

Treats for the family abound this month, but two of the most enjoyable can be seen daily at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Tula and Nuri are Amur (Siberian} tiger cubs born in July. Their antics would bring a smile to Scrooge. Check out this video and spend some time watching them and all the other zoo residents.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO

10001 W. Bluemound Road. Just 10 minutes from downtown Milwaukee at Highway 45 and Interstate 94. Open 365 days a year. Ph. (414) 256-5412 or www.milwaukeezoo.org.

It’s always a good time to visit the Milwaukee County Zoo, one of the premier zoological parks in the country.

Enjoy the “Fantastic Forest of Holiday Trees,” a collection of trees decorated by children, in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place entrance to the zoo.

Family Free Day at the zoo is Dec. 5

Breakfast and lunch with Santa Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20. 256-5412.

BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

929 E. Wisconsin Ave. Ph. 414-291-0888 Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. www.bbcmkids.org

Programs include:

• Tot Time, ages 1 to 3 with parent or caregiver, 10:30 a.m. Tuedays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. Toddlers will enjoy sing-alongs, finger-play, stories, and art experiences. Adults learn how these experiences impact early childhood development.
  
  
  
• Pre-School Pop-in, ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Pre-schoolers participate in music, movement and visual art activities that encourage early reading and introduce beginning math concepts. Adults learn about age-appropriate activities that stimulate a child's development.

Special events:

Great toys historically have stimulated the imagination of youngsters. With that in mind, the museum staff built the new exhibit, “Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination.” GE Technologies worked closely with the staff on this exhibit, which celebrates the iconic educational toy’s 95th anniversary. The exhibit will be at the museum through Jan. 24 and then begin a tour of other children’s museums throughout the U.S.

• Neighborhood Night Dec. 17 means free admission from 5-8 p.m.
• Winter Break Fun Dec. 28-31 includes special workshops and events, with the museum open on Monday, Dec. 28.
• New Years Eve at Noon Dec. 31 lets youngsters celebrate well before bedtime. Create a party hat in the Artist’s Studio, count down to the big ball drop at noon and celebrate with toast and treats. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

THE MUSEUM CENTER
800 W. Wells St.

Includes Milwaukee Public Museum, one of the world's best natural history museums (Ph. 278-2700); and the Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater 414-319-IMAX. www.mpm.edu

Special exhibits:

The Puelicher Butterfly Wing allows visitors to stroll through a lush, tropical garden filled with butterflies, some willing to pause on fingers.

“Cabinets of Curiosity,” themed in honor of the museum’s 125th anniversary, illustrates the vast scope of museum holdings.

The Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater in the Museum Center, the only IMAX theater in the state, doubles as a state-of-the-art digital planetarium.

Current and upcoming IMAX shows:

“AFRICA; THE SERENGETI,” (through Jan. 21, 2010): Safari into the "last great place on earth" – the Serengeti plains, a place where life and death dramas are played daily within the most important animal sanctuary on earth.

“WILD OCEAN” (through March 18): Explores the interplay between man and the endangered ocean ecosystem, an epic struggle for survival where animals collide with the most voracious sea predator, mankind.

“THE POLAR EXPRESS.” through Jan. 3: Extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.

Current and upcoming shows at the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium in the IMAX :

“Ice Worlds” (through Dec. 11) travels to the Arctic and Antarctic to examine the ecosystems that live and thrive in those regions. It also travels beyond Earth to see how ice shapes the landscapes and the natural systems on other planets and moons. The film finishes with “The Pluto Story,” a look at the popular ex-planet produced by the Milwaukee Public Museum.

"Galileo: The Power of the Telescope" opens Sept. 25. The Soref Planetarium original production tells Galileo's personal and powerful story, exploring how his discoveries displaced long-held views about the universe. Narrated by Dava Sobel, author of the award-winning biography "Galileo's Daughter."

“MYSTERY OF THE CHRISTMAS STAR,” through Jan. 3: Journey back 2000 years to Bethlehem to discover which ancient star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus.

Call 414-319-4629 for IMAX planetarium show times and reservations.

DISCOVERY WORLD at PIER WISCONSIN

500 N. Harbor Dr. 765-9966. The newest addition to Milwaukee’s world-class lineup of museums and visitor attractions is the home of the 19th century re-creation of a Great Lakes sailing vessel, the Denis Sullivan. Until the ship is returns for the summer season, the Discovery World Museum offers saltwater and fresh water aquariums, interactive exhibits created by several of the city’s leading corporations and the HIVE, a virtual-reality chamber that puts visitors into 30 simulated environments.. Open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun. www.discoveryworld.org.

A special weekend program, "Tesla Lives," provides electrifying performances that look into the genius of Nicola Tesla.

Continuing exhibits at Discovery World:

"City of Freshwater" focuses on Milwaukee’s leadership role in use of its water resources.

"Les Paul's House of Sound" is a tribute to the famed Wisconsin guitarist Les Paul.

Briggs & Stratton's "Milwaukee Muscle" exhibit allows visitors to design a vehicle of the future.

"Energy & Ingenuity: Harnessing the Power of You" developed by the Wisconsin Energy Foundation.

MISCELLANEOUS FUN

COMEDYSPORTZ at 420 S. 1st St. continues to provide improvisational comedy suitable for the whole family. Shows every week 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.  Also 10 p.m. Friday amateur (18+) stand up session. Call 272-8888 for show times and reservations or visit www.comedysportz.com. Be sure to use our KeyMilwaukee.com coupon for extra savings.

THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS got the NBA season off to a good start in November and have games against Cleveland, San Antonio and Los Angeles this month. Check KeyMilwaukee.com sports for the full schedule.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, through Dec. 24; First Stage Children’s Theater presents an annual Christmas pageant staged by the unruly Herdman kids. Todd Wehr Stage of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. 267-2929.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, through Dec. 27; A family tradition, this Dickens classic is presented by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in the historic Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. Buy tickets at the box office or online at www.milwaukeerep.com

MILWAUKEE HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL, through Jan. 3; Downtown Milwaukee. Cathedral Square Park, N. Jefferson and E. Wells; Pere Marquette Park, W. State and Old World 3rd St. and Ziedler Union Square, W. Michigan St. between 3rd and 4th Sts., are brightly lit for the season, along with the rooftops throughout downtown Milwaukee. Jingle Bus to displays operates 6-9 p.m. Thurs.-Sun. The last Jingle Bus departs at approximately 8:20 p.m. The bus does not operate Thanksgiving Day. Catch the Jingle Bus for $1 at the Plankinton Arcade in the Shops of Grand Avenue. 220-4700.

LEONARD BEARSTEIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, through Jan. 4; Conductor Bearstein and his 18-piece orchestra of animated bears returns to the atrium of the Shops of Grand Avenue in downtown Milwaukee to perform hourly. 224-0655.

M&I BANK HOLIDAY DISPLAY, through Jan. 4; M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank lobby, 770 N. Water St., again presents displays of giant stuffed animals. Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, 9 a.m..-4 p.m. weekends, including Christmas and New Year’s days. On Dec.12 and Dec. 24, exhibit closes at 1 p.m. On Jan. 4,exhibit closes at 5 p.m.

DOLLS OF THE WORLD-CUSTOMS, CULTURES AND CELEBRATIONS, through Jan. 30; The Waukesha County Museum, 101 W. Main St. in Waukesha, developed this intriguing exhibit in conjunction with the Toy Museum of New York. 262-521-2859.

PLAYHOUSE DISNEY LIVE, Dec. 4-5; Laugh, sing and play along at live touring show coming to The Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. 908-6001.

CHRISTMAS IN THE WARD, Dec. 4-5; Historic Third Ward, just south of downtown Milwaukee. On Friday, at Catalano Square, Broadway & Menomonee Street, tree-lighting, ceremony, fireworks, live reindeer, horse-drawn carriage rides, Bel Canto Chorus and Trinity Irish Dancers; Saturday, breakfast with Santa at the Broadway Theatre Center, choir performances, discounts and offers from merchants. 273-1173.

ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS, Dec. 5; Downtown Port Washington’s annual “Christmas on the Corner” this year includes horse and carriage rides, live Nativity, pictures with Santa, live reindeer, strolling musicians and a 6:15 p.m. parade. 3-7 p.m. 262-268-1132.

SATURDAYS WITH SANTA, Dec. 5, 12 & 19; The Shops of Grand Avenue, in conjunction with Radio Disney, present special programs each Saturday. Noon-2 p.m.

THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI, Dec. 5-6, 11-13; Acacia Theatre Company presents this musical about the meaning of Christmas (based on two O’Henry stories) at the Todd Wehr Auditorium of Concordia University, 12800 N. Lake Shore Dr., Mequon. 744-5995.

SODA WITH SANTA, DEC. 6 & 13; Annual holiday celebration at Sprecher Brewing Co., 701 W.Glendale Ave. in Glendale, includes the chance to have the kids pictures placed on bottles of Sprecher soda. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 964-2739.

BROOKFIELD HOLIDAY PARTY, Dec. 11; Family holiday party will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Community room, 1900 N. Calhoun Rd.

PRO SNOWMOBILE RACING, Dec. 18 & 19; For the first time, the Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park is the scene of professional snowmobile racing. Included in the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will be exciting freestyle performances. www.ISOCRacing.com

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS, Dec. 31; Basketball’s ambassadors of good will return again to the Bradley Center, 1001 N. Fourth St., for two New Year’s Eve performances. 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. 800-745-3000.